Miniature rose plant named `Helen`

ABSTRACT

The subject of the present disclosure is a new and distinct variety of miniature rose plant, named `Helen` which is characterized by buds and blooms ranging from near Crimson to near Cherry in cooler weather and ranging from near Orient Red to near Blood Red in warmer weather. Blooms of this rose are usually borne one to a stem with hybrid tea form and in sprays of 3 to 5 or more. The bush is vigorous, well-branched and produces moderate to heavy blooms.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of a hardy, dwarf, bush plant of the miniature class; the variety being primarily characterized as medium red.

The variety is further characterized by:

Long stemmed blooms of hybrid tea-type form, borne usually one to a stem and in compact sprays of 3 to 5 or more. The blooms are held very erect and well above the foliage.

The plant ranges in height from 18 to 24 inches (45 to 60 cm). The canes are sturdy and erect with moderate branching and medium to heavy foliage covering. The plant is a heavy bloomer that does well either in the greenhouse or outdoors.

The plant has good growth habits, well-shaped and attractive, bearing numerous leaflets of average size. I have found this variety to be easily asexually reproduced from cuttings as performed in the nursery located at 489 Minot Ave., Chula Vista, Calif.

The seed parent was Carrousel (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 1,066), and the pollen parent was Starina (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 2,646). It differs from its seed patent in the following ways. It is a miniature rose with small blooms, foliage and growth habit which is average size for the miniature classification; whereas Carrousel is a grandiflora and has much larger blooms, foliage and growth habit in keeping with the grandiflora classification. It differs from its pollen parent in the following ways. It produces blooms in shades of medium red on a bush plant which averages 60 to 80 cm in height; whereas Starina produces blooms in orange-red on a bush plant that rarely exceeds a height of 30 to 40 cm.

The single color photographic view shows, in plain view, a bouquet of `Helen` in various stages of maturity from bud stage to nearly open bloom stage.

The descriptive matter which follows pertains to roses grown and color values observed in plants and newly opened blooms in the months of March through November of 1992. The plants were grown outdoors in Chula Vista, Calif., and are believed to be accurate standards for this cultivar in similar conditions of soil and climate elsewhere.

Referring now specifically to the new and distinct variety of miniature rose plant named `Helen`, the following is a detailed description thereof in outline; all major color plate identifications being by reference to the British Colour Council Horticultural Chart, except where common terms of color definition are employed.

Type: Hardy, dwarf, bushy, greenhouse or outdoor, exhibition or garden decorative potted plant.

Class: Miniature.

Variety name: Helen.

Flowers borne: Usually one to a stem, but occasionally in sprays of 3 to 5 or more on erect stems with foliage well below the blooms.

Quantity of bloom: Heavy both outdoors or greenhouse grown.

Bud:

Peduncle.--Average length (30 to 50 mm); average diameter and sturdy; ranging from near Scheeles Green (860/3 to 860/1 page 176) with occasional tinting of bronze.

Hairs.--Extremely small and sparse with a reddish color; located over the surface of the peduncle and calyx tube.

Calyx.-- Color range same as peduncle.

Opening.--Opens well in all weather.

Bloom:

Size when fully open.--Average for a miniature variety (60 to 80 mm).

Petalage.--Full -- 25 to 35 petals, arranged regularly, plus 5 to 10 petaloids.

Form.--Urn-shaped to ovoid as the bloom opens. The petals remain somewhat cupped with the apex and/or margins reflexed outward, becoming at maturity more loosely cupped.

Petals: Fairly thick with good substance; both the upper and under surfaces of all petals have a matte finish.

Shape.--Outer petals are of a broad obovate form. The intermediate petals are very much like the outer petals only narrower. The inner petals are a broad lanceolate form; and the petaloids are also lanceolate with some occasional irregularities.

Color: Newly opened flowers from plants grown outdoors (March through November of 1992), Chula Vista, Calif.

All petals.--Upper surfaces -- Ranging from near Orient Red (819/3 to 819 page 165) to near Blood Red (820/3 to 820/1 page 166) during warm weather and ranging from near Crimson (22/2 to 22 page 22) to near Cherry (722/3 to 722 page 157) in cooler weather. Under surfaces -- Slightly lighter tones of upper surfaces.

General color effect.--Newly opened flowers -- Medium red over all petals. With overall color slightly paler in cooler weather. Little or no fading of color throughout the bloom cycle.

Flower longevity. (March through November 1992).--Plant in pot 5 to 7 days from bud with sepals reflexed to fully open bloom. Holding at fully opened for 5 to 7 days longer. Cut blooms at living room temperature 10 to 14 days or longer.

Reproductive organs:

Stamens.--A generous amount arranged uniformly around the pistil.

Filaments.--Varying in length with shorter filaments more proximal to the pistil; pale yellow in color with anthers of golden yellow.

Pollen.--Abundant.

Pistil.--Short, spreading and abundant; pale yellow with reddish tips.

Ovaries.--All encased in calyx.

Hips.--Some.

Seeds.--3 to 5 or more in each hip.

Sepals.--Permanent; spear-shaped; open as the bloom opens, recurving against the peduncle, when the bloom is fully opened. Occasional foliaceous appendages attractively supplement sepal terminals; these are of varying lengths.

Foliage:

Leaves.--5 to 7 leaflets on average; medium size for a miniature rose plant.

Leaflets.--Broad ovate-shaped.

Margins.--Very serrated with tinting of bronze, especially noticeable on the newer foliage.

Color.--Ranging from near Spinach Green (0960/3 to 0960 page 187) to near Scheeles Green (860/1 to 860 page 175) with occasional bronzing of the margins, especially on the newer foliage. Upper surfaces have a semi-glossy finish, and the under surfaces have a matte finish of a slightly lighter shade than the upper surfaces.

Rachis.--Medium strength; upper surface is grooved with very small hairs over the length of it. Under surface has few if any hairs but does contain 2 to 5 small thorns.

Stipules.--Varying in length from small to medium; average width; tapering auricles angled outward at about 45 degrees.

Growth:

Habit.--Dwarf, bush; above average for a miniature rose plant.

Rate and character.--Vigorous and well-branched.

Canes.--Medium diameter; sturdy; held erect.

Main stems.--Color range same as foliage.

Thorns.--Averaging less than 5 to 10 per 10 cm on the main stems and branches. Reddish in color; average size; slender and hooked slightly downward.

Branches.--Coloration ranges the same as does that of the foliage.

The miniature rose plant and its flowers as herein described may vary in slight detail due to climate, soil and cultural conditions under which the variety may be grown; the present description being of the variety as grown in Chula Vista, Calif. 

The following is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct variety of miniature rose plant, named `Helen`, hardy, dwarf, vigorous growth, well-branched and attractive in appearance, substantially as illustrated and described; characterized by its hybrid tea form blooms, ranging from near Crimson to near Cherry in cooler weather and near Orient Red to near Blood Red in warmer weather with little or no fading of color throughout the bloom cycle. The blooms are abundant on the bush and usually borne one to a stems but occasionaly in sprays of 3 to 5 or more. 